Welcome to Western Michigan!

Need Research Help this summer? Have
Questions?

Regular Monthly Membership Meetings are on
Summer Hiatus until Saturday, September 12.

However...
whether you’re just beginning to investigate
your family’s past, or a more seasoned
genealogist who needs a "new pair of eyes" to
jump start your research, it’s helpful to talk
to other more experienced family historians.
This is especially true during July and August
when WMGS members take a vacation from monthly
meetings. Any beginning, intermediate or
advanced researcher who wants help with a
genealogical question is encouraged to come to
the Local History Department at the Grand Rapids
Public Library to confer with an experienced
WMGS member on any Tuesday evening or on
the
first three Thursday nights in June, July and
August from 6 to 9 pm.

DIG

The newly formed Western Michigan Genealogical
Society DNA Interest Group(DIG)
will meet on the 3rd Thursday of the month in
the Vander Veen Center for the Book (on the 4th
floor of the Grand Rapids Public Library). The
next meeting will be Thursday, 16 July 2015 at 7p.m.

New!! Media Committee: Do you
know of something that should be publicized to
our family history community? Whether the
newsletter or Michigana or the websites or
Facebook? Send the item of interest to
talkingtree@wmgs.org and it will reach our
Media Committee members who will help spread the
news.

ABOUT
WMGS

The Western Michigan* Genealogical Society was founded in
1954 with the purpose of preserving and making available for
genealogical research the records of our ancestors;
encouraging and assisting members in genealogical research;
promoting the exchange of knowledge and encouraging the
deposit of genealogical records in established libraries and
archives.

*Includes Kent County and the counties
immediately surrounding; namely Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo,
Montcalm, Ionia, Barry and Allegan Counties. There is some
extension beyond these counties into other areas of the
Western Lower Peninsula.

New WMGS Publication!STATE LAND PATENTS, KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN

Originally compiled by Western Michigan Genealogical
Society in 1984, this publication was redone and
improved in 2010. Original land patents given by the
Michigan State Government from approximately
1840-1879. These are very important records, as Kent
County had more state land for sale than any other
county in lower Michigan at that time.

A resource site for historical and genealogical
organizations & repositories within West Michigan
www.commoncorners.com

Donations

Please consider making a tax deductible
donation in support of genealogical research, education, and
preservation in West Michigan. The Western Michigan
Genealogical Society is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.
More information...

All of these periodicals and/or newsletters
(whatever has been done over the years) are available at the
Library of Michigan (Lansing) and in respective local
libraries. Societies: please update the webmaster with
corrections or additions.

The Story of
Grand Rapids was edited by Z. Z. Lydens (Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1966). A subject card file,
citing primarily newspaper articles was prepared during the
project and serves as an indirect index to Grand Rapids
newspapers.

MICHIGANA
SECTION

Do you have questions, comments or
suggestions for Michigana? Contact the editor, Ruth
Waybrant at
Michigana@wmgs.org.

KENT
COUNTY PIONEER

See the Growing
List of Pioneer, Settler and Early Families of Kent
County

*Includes Kent County and the counties immediately
surrounding; namely Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Montcalm, Ionia, Barry and
Allegan Counties. There is some extension beyond these counties into other areas
of the Western Lower Peninsula.